Ambati Rayudu bailed out India with a career-best unbeaten century to help them secure a tense four-run win over Zimbabwe in the first one-day international (ODI) at the Harare Sports Club.
After being sent in to bat, India had stumbled to 87 for five before Rayudu (124 not out from 133 balls) and Stuart Binny (77 from 76 balls) put on an Indian record 160 for the sixth wicket to help the tourists reach 255 for six in their 50 overs.
Zimbabwe battled to keep up with the rate on a slow wicket but late fireworks from captain Elton Chigumbura (104 not out from 101 balls) took them to needing 10 off the final over.
They reduced that to six from three balls but Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled brilliantly to concede just a single from there.
Chigumbura waited 174 matches for his first ODI ton and now has two in as many innings but was disappointed not to have got his side over the line.
“He bowled well in that last over so it was hard,” Chigumbura said of Kumar. “I was just waiting for the one that he was going to miss and make sure I executed well, but I didn’t get any. It was disappointing to lose after fighting so hard. Losing wickets in groups made the difference.”
Rayudu, who was named man of the match, said batting conditions were difficult early on after India were put in to bat. “It was very tough to bat in the morning. Me and Ajju [Rahane] were batting well until he got out. I am happy that I took the responsibility today.”
The day belonged to Rayudu as he reached his second ODI century off 117 balls, with only 22 of those runs coming from boundaries, and has now scored 225 runs in four innings in Zimbabwe with just two dismissals.
He was superbly supported by Binny, whose run-a-ball knock defied the conditions with the pair doing most of the damage as India scored 90 runs in the final 10 overs.
Binny continued his fine match with two for 54 with the ball but left-arm slow bowler Axel Patal (two for 41) was the pick of the tourists’ attack.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, playing his first ODI in over four years, returned figures of one for 46 in his 10 overs.
The second ODI of the three-match series will be on Sunday at the same venue, with the teams also playing two Twenty20 games starting next Friday.
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